The Sunsphere

The Secrets of Marble Springs

About six miles south of downtown Knoxville, Marble Springs is a bucolic idyll, a cluster of very old cabins in a creekside glade, surrounded by woods. It’s unlike most historic homes in that the touring is mostly outside, peering into four historic cabins arranged in a compound. It’s a good place…

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7 Intriguing Knoxville Couples

Knoxville has been home to all sorts of couples in its 230-odd years, even back to the days of Blount Mansion, and the team of William and Mary (or Molsey) Blount—whose union is remembered with the fact that Maryville, named for her, is the seat of Blount County, named for him. There have been…

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Christmas at the Historic Homes of Knoxville

Knoxville is very proud of its seven Historic House Museums, and they all have many opportunities to learn about life in this region from various eras. The holiday season is especially festive with open houses and other events. Let’s get to it to see what each of these homes have to offer during the…

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Spooky Hiking Adventures

Ghost House Loop Trail Visit the beautiful Big Ridge State Park to explore some local history during spooky season. The Ghost House Loop Trail is a 1.2-mile easy-to-moderate loop hike which begins near the group campsite and takes you deep into the history of this area's pre-1930s inhabitants…

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Guide to Knoxville for Readers

Several cities tout their favorite local authors, because people like to see the places they’ve read about in novels. Knoxville has its own literary heritage, associated with nationally well-known books and authors, and a brand-new guide to the city’s notable writers, and the places they wrote…

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UT: The Historic Tour

The University of Tennessee is arguably the largest entity in Knoxville, and one of the oldest. But how well do we know it? About 100,000 people gather there now and then, especially in the fall to watch a football game, but may not see much of the rest of the university. But UT’s campus presents a…

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Black History, Attractions, and Exhibits in Knoxville

February may be Black History Month, but Black history is American history, and in Knoxville there’s plenty to go around for the whole year. This post highlights the Black history of this area along with attractions that have temporary and permanent exhibits, murals, statues, parks, and more. Beck…

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